Bale-covering.



No. 662,802. Patented Nov. 27, I900. T. T. MUNFDRD.

BALE COVERING.

(Application filed.Aug. 2B, 1899. Renewed Oct. 16, 1900.)

(No ModeL;

lTED STATns ATENT lFFl CE.

THOMAS T. MUNFORD, OF LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA.

BALE COVERING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 662,802, dated November 27, 1900.

Application filed August 28, 1899. Renewed October 16, 1900. Serial No. 33,285. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS T. MUNFORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynchburg, in the county of Campbell and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bale-Coverings, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to improvements in bale-coverings, and has for its object to provide a light durable article for that purpose possessing many advantages over the ties ordinarily employed in baling cotton and also attaining the chief objects of a metallic covering. The covering ismade of a suitable fabric strengthened and stiffened by metal strips, and the fabric may be treated with a fireproofing compound, thus obviating the liability to destruction by fire to which it would otherwise be exposed. The fabric is cut into suitable blanks, forming the body of the bale-covering and the top, the edges of the blanks being provided with the strips of metal to impart rigidity to the covering.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the bale-covering as it appears when completed and filled with cotton. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the body of the covering in blank as it is cut from the cloth and re inforced with suitable strips. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the top.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts, 1 designates the blank from which the body of the bale-covering is formed, and 2 the blank from which the top is made.

The body 1 of the bale-covering has a bottom 3, side flaps 4:, and end flaps 5, the side flaps being of a length sufficiently greater than that of the bottom to form the extensions 6, which when the sides and ends of the body of the covering are bent up fold over the ends of the body of the covering and being fastened securely hold the ends of the covering together. The exposed edges of the material of which the covering is made are provided with binding-strips 7, made of metal bent upon itself and inclosing the edge of the fabric. The binding-strips at the ends of the side flaps are provided with holes 10, through which are passed rivets, bolts, or other fasteners for securing the extensions and ends of the covering together, and the strips at the upper edge ef each of the side flaps have holes 10 for securing the top to the body of the bale-covering. The blank having been cut and the binding-strips secured to the edges thereof by rivets or otherwise, the side flaps 4 are bent at a right angle to the bottom 3, and the ends having also been bent in the same manner the extensions 6 are folded over the ends of the body of the covering and riveted or secured to the ends through holes 10, provided for that purpose. The body of the bale-covering is then ready to receive the top 2, the blank for which is cut to form the side flaps 11 and end flaps 12, the exposed edges being provided with binding or reinforcing strips 13, similar to those on the edges of the body of the bale-covering. The strips 13 of the top have holes 14, adapted to register when the top is in position with those in the strips at the edges of the body of the covering for the reception of any suitable means for fastening the top to the body of the covering. This covering may be employed in carrying out the method described and claimed in an application filed August 28, 1899, Serial No. 728,743.

Any suitable fabricsuch as canvas,cotton, &c.-may be utilized in making the covering, it having been preferably first treated with a fireproofing compound made of silex, asbestos, or other mineral pigments combined with oil and cement. This coveringin addition to its desirability on account of cheapness and simplicity also possesses advantages over the metallic covering owing to its lightness and attains at the same time the objects of the metallic covering by preventing tamporing with the cotton, Waste, destruction by fire, absorption of moisture, and insuring a. bale of uniform size.

Having thus described my invention, I clain1 I In a bale-covering for fibrous materials, said covering being made of fabric, the com bination of a body forming the bottom, sides and ends, and comprising side flaps and end tensions of the side flaps to the end flaps of 10 flaps, the side flaps having extensions adapt the covering, substantially as set forth. ed to be bent over the end flaps and secured In testimony whereof I hereunto set my thereto; reinforcing-strips fastened tothe eX- I hand. posed edges of the side and end flaps a cover composed of a blank having side flaps and end flaps; reinforcing-strips fastened to the exposed edges of the side flaps and end flaps of the cover; and means for securing the ex- I THOMAS T. MUNFORD.

Witnesses:

T. GLEN MUNFORD, MARY O. TAYLOE. 

